Latch means for devices having a pivoted operating arm



W. P. ALBURGER LATCH MEANS FOR DEVICES HAVING A PIVOTED OPERATING ARM 2, 1.964

2 Sheets-$heet 1 Filed Dec.

WILLIAM PALBURGER ATTORNEYS Aug. 9 W6 w. P. ALURGER 3,24%

LATCH MEANS FOR DEVICES HAVING A PIVOTED OPERATING ARM Filed Dec. 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,254,888 LATCH MEANS FOR DEVICES HAVING A PIVUTED GIPERATHNG ARM William P. Albnrger, Hatfield, Pa, assignor to Fox Products Company, Philadelphia, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Dec. 2, 11964, Ser. No. 415,328 7 Claims. (Cl. 74-102) This invention relates to devices having a pivoted operating arm and, more particularly, to latch'rneans for securing the operating arm of such a device in a predetermined operative position. Though more broadly useful, the invention is particularly applicable to automatic weight-operated poultry watering valves.

It is now common practice to employ, for filling poultry troughs and the like, a valve having a swinging operating arm which is biased in one direction, as by a spring, and which is so associated with the trough or other receptacle that the combined weight of the receptacle and its contents acts on the operating arm in the opposite direction from that in which the arm is biased. Typically, the operating arm is mounted to pivot about a horizontal axis and the trough or other receptacle is suspended from the arm, the arrangement being such that, as the amount of water in the receptacle increases, the increasing weight will pivot the operating arm toward a valve-closing position. In some cases, the valve is of the double acting type, being closed whenever the operating arm is pivoted to either of two extreme positions and opened when the arm is in an intermediate position. In other cases, the valve is of the single acting type, closed when the arm is pivoted to one extreme position and open when the arm retreats from that position. Whether the valve is of the single action type or the double action type, it is highly desirable to provide a latch device which will keep the arm in one selected position to assure that the valve will then be maintained in a desired operative condition. In the case of a single action valve, the latch device is necessary to keep the valve closed when, for example, the receptacle is not in place. In the case of the double acting valve, the latch is necessary to keep the operating arm in valve-opening position until enough water collects in the receptacle to assure automatic operation of the valve. Though a considerable amount of attention has heretofore been devoted to the problem of equipping such valves with a satisfactory latch device, there has been a continuing need for improvement.

Another problem in connection with such valves arises from the need for releasably connecting to the operating arm a suspension bail or the like, employed either to suspend the receptacle from the operating arm or to suspend the combination of the receptacle and valve from a chain or the like. On the one hand, the susension bail or like element should be easily and quickly connectable to and removable from the operating arm. On the other hand, it is desirable that the suspension bail or the like not be subject to being accidentally disconnected from the operating arm. Heretofore, no truly satisfactory arrangement for connecting the suspension bail, or its equivalent, to the operating arm of the valve has been developed.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a valve of the type described which embodies a relatively simple and dependable latch device.

Patented August 9, 1%66 Another object is to devise means which will serve both as a latch, for keeping the operating arm of the valve in a desired position, and as means for securing to the operating arm a suspension bail or the like.

A further object is to provide a combined latch device and bail retainer which is operative regardless of the position occupied by the valve, so as to be useful both in instances where the receptacle is suspended from the operating arm of the valve and in cases where the combination of the receptacle and the valve is suspended via the operating arm from a chain or the like.

In order that the manner in which the foregoing and other objects are achieved in accordance with the invention can be understood in detail, one advantageous embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a valve constructed in accordance with the invention and assembled for use in installations, such as those shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, wherein the valve is fixed rigidly to a support and a watering receptacle is suspended from the operating arm of the valve;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the operating arm, suspension member and latch member assembly of the valve of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is a fragmentary side elevational view of an end portion of the operating arm of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the valve body employed in the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a bracket for mounting the assembly of FIG. 2 on the body of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of a cap member and diaphragm employed in the valve of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6, FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the valve of FIG. 1, showing the latch in a position which maintains the valve closed; and

FIG. 8 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, illustrating the valve of FIG, 1 employed to maintain water in a receptacle of the pan type.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention here shown comprises a valve body indicated generally at 1 and fabricated from a piece of metal stock of hexagonal transverse cross section. The valve body is elongated and includes a main body portion 2 which retains the hexagonal cross section of the original stock and includes two opposed flat side surfaces 3 which, as will appear hereinafter, are to be disposed in vertical position when the valve is horizontally mounted. Two transversely aligned, outwardly opening, interiorly threaded bores 4 are provided, each opening through one of the surfaces 3.

At one end of the valve body, hexagonal portion 2 terminates in a transverse annular shoulder 5, the end portion 6 of the body projecting beyond that shoulder being exteriorly threaded to cooperate with a clamping nut 7. At its other end, hexagonal portion 2 terminates in a transverse annular shoulder 8 and the smaller diameter end portion 9 of the valve body, projecting beyond shoulder 8, is exteriorly threaded.

Portion 6 is provided with an axially extending input bore 10, -a cup-shaped filter element 1'1 being fitted in the open outer end of bore Ill. A plane cylindrical bore 12, coaxial with bore It), extends through end portion 9 and for the greater portion of the length of hexagonal portion 2 of the body. The inner ends of bores and 12 are spaced apart axially and, between these two bores, the valve body is provided with an intermediate bore 113 of smaller diameter than bores '10 and .12. A duct member 14 is secured in intermediate bore 13, as by a pressed fit, and projects for substantially the entire length of bore 12, terminating in a frusto-conical tip 15 constituting the orifice end of the duct member. The narrow, flat, annular end face 16 of tip '15 lies approximately in the transverse plane occupied by the end of exteriorly threaded portion 9 of the valve body.

The outer surface of duct member 14 and the wall of bore 12 coact to define an annular chamber .17. A generally lateral bore '18 opens through the wall of body portion 2 and communicates with chamber 17. An outlet tube 19 is fixed in bore 18 and projects generally laterally from the valve body, being provide-d with an exteriorly serrated tip portion on which is telescopically disposed the end portion of a flexible outlet tube 20. The outlet port 18 is centered between the two opposed flat surfaces 3 of body portion 2 and lies in a plane parallel to those surfaces so that, when the valve body is horizontally disposed with surfaces 3 extending vertically, outlet member 19 can be downwardly directed as shown. Advantageously, outlet port 18 and member 19 are inclined downwardly and away from the inlet end of the valve body.

The inner end of annular chamber 17 is closed by the shoulder provided at the junction between bores 12 and 13. The outer end of chamber 17 is closed by the combination of a cap member 21 and a flexible diaphragm 22, the diaphragm 22 constituting the movable element of the valve. Cap member 21 includes a tubular cylindrical portion 23 which is internally threaded and engaged with the external threads of body portion 9. The remainder of cap member 21 is in the form of a shallow cup, including a peripheral wall 24 concentric with and larger than tubular portion v23, and a transverse annular wall portion 25 provided with a circular, centrally disposed opening 26, FIG. 6.

The diaphragm 22 has a flat annular peripheral portion 27 and a centrally disposed body portion 28, body portion 28 being substantially thicker, in an axial direction, than is portion 27 and projecting from one side of the diaphragm, as best seen in FIG. 6. On the side of the diaphragm opposite the central body portion 28, there is a shallow, cup-shaped recess defined by frusto-conical wall portion 29 and a flat circular portion 30. The diameter of portion 30 is distinctly larger than the outer diameter of the annular end face 16 of the tip of duct member [14. Because of the presence of frusto-conical wall portion 29, the annular portion of the diaphragm disposed between the outer edge of portion 30 and the peripheral portion of the diaphragm is significantly thinner than is the peripheral portion, so that adequate flexibility is provided to assure that the axially thickened portion 28 of the diaphragm can be displaced axially relative to the periphery of the diaphragm when the latter is secured against movement.

The dimensions of diaphragm 2-2 are such that the diaphragm can be accommodated within cap member 21 in the fashion seen in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6. Thus, the peripheral portion of the diaphragm is embraced by portion 23 of the cap member and is axially supported, on one side, by the inwardly projecting part of wall 25. The thickened central body portion 28 of the diaphragm projects through central opening 26 in the transverse wall 25 of the cap member. When the diaphragm is thus disposed in the cap member and the internally threaded portion 23 of the cap member is engaged over externally threaded portion 9 of the valve body, the periphery of the diaphragm is clamped between the valve body and the transverse annular wall portion 25 of the cap member so that the diaphragm is effective to sealingly close the outer end of annular chamber 17, as will be clear from FIG. 1.

Diaphragm 22 is formed of a suitable resilient material, such as natural or synthetic rubber, and has a normal or relaxed position, seen in FIGS. 1 and 6. With the diaphragm in this normal or relaxed position, the flat circular central face 30 is disposed in a plane between the two side surfaces of the peripheral portion of the diaphragm. This being so, and the end face 16 of the tip of duct member 14 lying substantially in the plane of the end face of body portion 9, the flat circular portion 30 of the diaphragm will be spaced axially from end face 16 so long as the diaphragm is allowed to remain in its relaxed position. Under these circumstances, the bore through duct member 14 communicates with chamber 17 and water supplied via bore 10 can thus flow freely through chamber 17 and discharge via outlet member 19 and tubing 20.

The valve includes an elongated operating arm indicated generally at 31, FIG. 2. Formed from stiff sheet metal or equivalent material, arm 31 is of U-shaped cross section so as to include a flat main wall 32 and flat, parallel side flanges 33 and 34. Throughout most of its length, portion 32 of the operating arm is straight. At one end of the arm, however, portion 32 is bent at 35, and side flanges 33 and 34 are correspondingly shaped, so as to provide an offset end portion 36. The line of bend 35 extends transversely of the operating arm and at right angles to the parallel planes in which side flanges 33 and 34 are disposed.

Intermediate the ends of the arms, side flanges 33 and 34 are provided with transversely aligned bearing openings 37 and 38, respectively. At the end of the operating arm opposite offset portion 36, side flanges 33 and 34 are provided with identical, transversely aligned notches. Each such notch includes a throat portion 39 which opens into two circular portions 40 and 41, circular portion 40 being nearer the free edge of the side flange while circular portion 41 is nearer the flat portion 32 of the arm. As will be clear from FIG. 2A, circular portions 40 and 41 overlap, so that both of the circular portions communicate with each other and with throat 39.

In the general location of bearing openings 37 and 38, the flat bottom wall portion 32 of arm 31 is provided with an opening 42, FIG. 2, to accommodate the outlet tube 20 when the valve is assembled in the fashion seen in FIGS. 1 and 8.

The operating arm 31 is pivotally mounted on valve body 1 by means of a bracket indicated generally at 43 and shown in detail in FIG. 4, and a bearing pin 44. Formed from stiff sheet metal or the like, the bracket 43 is an integral unit and comprises two spaced parallel arms 45 and 46 carried by a bridging portion 47 which is bent at its center, along a line indicated at 43, FIG. 4, so that the two halves of the bridging portion can each lie in flush engagement with a different one of two adjacent flat surfaces of the hexagonal portion 2 of the valve body. The arms 45 and 46 project each from a different end of bridging portion 47 and are so disposed as to be capable of lying in flush engagement with the two opposed fiat surfaces 3 of hexagonal portion 2 of the valve body. Adjacent their free ends, arms 45 and 46 are provided with circular openings 49 and 50, respectively, to accommodate the bearing pin 44. The end portions of arms 45 and 46 which are joined to the bridging portion 47 are provided with transversely aligned openings 51 and 52, respectively, to accommodate mounting screws 53, FIG. 8, which are respectively engaged in the threaded bores 4 in the valve body.

From FIGS. 1 and 8, it will be clear that, when the bracket 43 is fixed to the valve body by screws 53, bridging portion 47 and arms 45 and 46 are in direct engagement with side surfaces of the hexagonal portion 2 of the valve body, the arms 45 and 46 projecting beyond the body so that the pivotal axis defined by openings 49 and 50 extends transversely of the body and is spaced laterally therefrom. The valve operating arm 31 is secured in place by first positioning the operating arm in such fashion that the portions of side walls 33 and 34 containing bearing openings 37 and 38 are disposed each on the inner side of a different one of the bracket arms 45 and 46, the bearing pin 44 then being passed through openings 37, 38, 49 and 50. The bearing pin can be secured in any suitable fashion, as by being provided with a bifurcated tip which is bent outwardly to engage the outer surface of the appropriate one of arms 45 and 46.

The length of operating arm 31 is such, and the bearin-g openings 37 and 38 are so located, that the offset portion 36 of the operating arm is spaced by a substantial distance from the cap member 21. A rigid actuating member 54 is fixedly attached to the offset portion 36 of the operating arm and projects from that portion generally toward the center of cap member 21. Actuating member 54 includes a threaded portion 55, a suitable retaining nut 56 being threadedly engaged on portion 55 before the actuating member is secured to the operating arm. To provide for a rigid connection between member 54 and arm portion 36, the arm portion can be provided with an aperture and the threaded portion 55 is provided with a tip of reduced diameter which extends through this aperture and is upset on the side of portion 36 opposite the main body portion of member 54, as will be clear from FIG. 1. A helical compression spring 57 surrounds member 54 and is engaged between nut 56 and cap member 21.

The normal effect of spring 57 is to urge the operating arm 31 pivotally in a direction which moves actuating member 54 away from the diaphragm 22. When arm 31 is pivoted in the opposite direction, spring 57 is compressed, and actuating member 54 is swung into a position in which the same is in general axial alignment with duct member 1 4. When in this position, the actuating member 54 has engaged and displaced the central, thicker body portion 28 of the diaphragm so that face 30 of the diaphragm is urged into fluid-tight engagement with the annular end face 16 of the tip of duct member 14, thus preventing water from flowing through the duct member into annular chamber 17. In this connection, it will be noted that the tip of actuating member 54 presents a flat transverse surface which is materially larger in diameter than is the annular end face 16 of the tip of duct member 14. Further, the relatively thick central portion 28 of the diaphragm is of substantially larger diameter than is the tip of the actuating member 54 which engages the same.

Cooperating with operating arm 31 is a suspension bail indicated generally at 58. The bail is formed of stiff metal wire of circular transverse cross section and includes a straight portion 59 and side arms 66 and 61, the latter being bent inwardly toward each other adjacent their tips and the tips of the arms being formed into hooks 62 and 63, respectivly. The straight portion 59 is slightly longer than the space between the outer surfaces of flanges 33 and 34 of the operating arm. The diameter of the wire from which the bail is formed is such that portion 59 of the bail can be passed through the transversely aligned throats 39 and into the circular notch portions 41, as will be apparent from FIG. 2.

Arm 31 also carries a manually adjustable latch member, indicated generally at 64 and seen in detail in FIG. 2, which serves both as a means for securing arm 31 in a valve-closing position and as means for retaining portion 59 of the suspension bail securely within circular notch portions 41. The latch member 64 is formed as an integral uni-t from stiff, cylindrical metal wire and includes a straight portion 6 5 which projects transversely of arm 31 through transversely aligned openings 66 and 67 in the side flanges 33 and 34, respectively, of the arm. At one of its ends, straight portion 65 is joined to a second straight portion 68, the latter extending at right angles to portion 65. At its opposite end, portion 68 joins a straight portion 69 which lies in a common plane with portion 65 and slants toward the free end of portion 65. Thus, the end of portion 69 joined to portion 63 is spaced from portion 65 by a distance greater than is the opposite end of portion 69. The end of portion 69 adjacent the free end of portion 65 joins a straight portion 76 which is at right angles to portion 65 and which projects from the common plane of portions 65 and 69 at an angle such that, when the common plane of portions 65 and 69 is approximately at right angles to arm portion 32, portion 70 intersects the transverse line determined by notch portions 49. At its free end, portion '70 joins a straight portion 71 which extends parallel to the common plane of portions 65 and 69 and projects from portion 70 generally toward the end of the latch member occupied by portion 63.

Portion 65 of the latch member is more than twice as long as the distance between the outer faces of the side flanges 33 and 34 of the operating arm. Portion 71 of the latch member, on the other hand, is only slightly longer than that distance. Accordingly, the latch member can be installed on the operating arm by first dis posing portion 65 in alignment with openings 66 and 67, and manipulating the latch member so that portion 71 thereof is spaced away from the free edges of side flanges 33 and 34. With the latch member in this position, portion 65 is inserted through openings 66 and 67 until portion 68 lies adjacent the outer surface of flange 31. The latch member is then pivoted about the axis provided by portion 65 until portion 71 of the latch member is aligned with notch portions 40. The latch member is then shifted transversely of the operating arm in a direction causing portion 71 of the latch member to extend through notch portions 40.

Notch portions 41 are of such diameter that the straight portion 59 of bail 58 can be moved laterally into notch portions 41 simply by inserting that portion of the bail through the throats 39 of the transversely aligned notches. The diameter of portion 71 of the latch member 64, an the locations of notch portions 46 relative to the mouths of notch portions 41 are such that, assuming that portion 59 of the suspension bail is in place in notch portions 41, insertion of portion '71 of the latch member into notch portions will serve to block bail portion 59 from escaping from notch portions 41, as will be apparent from FIG. 2.

As best seen in FIG. 3, hexagonal portion 2 of valve body 1 is provided with a transverse outwardly opening annular groove 72 disposed immediately adjacent to shoulder 5, this groove being of semicircular transverse cross section and being so located as to accommodate portion 69 of latch member 64, as seen in FIG. 1. When latch member 64 is shifted, transversely relative to arm 31, in a direction to move portion 68 away from the operating arm and to move portions 719 into proximity with side flange 34, the space between portion and the corresponding end of portion 69 is small enough to allow the operating arm 31 to swing in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, sufficiently to open the valve by withdrawing actuating member 54 from engagement with the central portion 26 of diaphragm 22. Also, when latch member 64 is in the position just described, the suspension bail 58 is securely locked in place by presence of portion 71 of the latch member within notch portions 46. On the other hand, when latch member 64 is shifted transversely of the operating arm 31 in a direction bringing portion 68 of the latch member into proximity with side flange 33, as seen in FIG. 7, the space between the corresponding ends of portions 65 and 69 is adequately large to force the operating arm in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, and latch the valve in closed position, with actuating member 54- firmly pressing the central portion 23 of diaphragm 22 against the annular end face 16 of duct member 14. Thus, the latch member is characterized by a wedging or camming action which forces the operating arm to swing into a valve-closing position and to remain in that position until the latch member is again shifted in a direction moving portion 68 away from the operating arm. Because of the relatively short length of portion 71 of the latch mem-, ber, shifting of the latch member to a position in which the valve is fully latched closed will result in withdrawal of portion 71 from engagement in notch portions 40, so that, being now Certain that the valve will remain close-d, the operator can disengage the suspension bail 58 from the operating arm.

Groove 72 provides a guide surface which is directed toward operating arm 31, whether the arm is disposed below the body 1, as seen in FIGS. 1, 8 and 9, or above the body, as in FIG. 10. Regardless of the position occupied by latch member 64, portion 69 thereof is disposed to engage in groove 72, so long as both portions 65 and 71 are engaged in the corresponding openings in the side flanges of the operating arm.

The assembled valve can be rigidly supported, as by a bracket 73, FIG. 1, when the valve is to be employed in the fashion illustrated in FIG. 8. The bracket 73 can be of any suitable rigid material and is provided at its lower end with a circular opening through which end portion 6 of the valve body extends so that the valve body can be rigidly attached to the bracket by the cooperation of clamping nut 7 and shoulder 5. Bracket 73 can be provided, at its opposite end, with a number of spaced apertures 74 to accommodate bolts or other fastening means for securing the bracket to any suitable supporting structure (not shown).

In the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 8, the valve is assembled in the fashion shown in FIG. 1 and is employed in conjunction with a pan-type poultry waterer comprising a shallow circular pan 75 to which is secured an upright, centrally located, cylindrical tube 76. Tube 76 is provided with outlet openings 77 at its lower end, the upper end of the tube being open and having transversely aligned openings 78 which accommodate a trans versely extending supporting rod 79 engaged in the hooked ends of the arms of the suspension bail 58.

The valve having been assembled in the fashion described with reference to FIG. 1, the operating arm 32 extends lengthwise of the valve body and is disposed therebelow, the outlet member 19 extending generally downwardly and the outlet tubing 20 passing through opening 42 in the operating arm. The flexible tubing 20 is extended downwardly within the supporting tube 76 of the watering pan, a free loop being provided at 80 in the flexible tubing in order to assure freedom of movement of the watering pan relative to the valve body. The watering pan can be easily suspended from the operating arm of the valve by first adjusting latch member 64 to its valve-closing position, then engaging the hooked ends 62 and 63 of the suspension bail about rod 79, then inserting bail portion 59 into notch portions 41, and finally returning latch member 64 to the position seen in FIG. 2 to lock the suspension bail in place and free the operating arm 31 for movement in a valve-opening direction. Under these circumstances, the weight of the watering pan is inadequate to overcome the biasing force provided by spring 57 and the valve is therefore maintained initially open by the biasing spring. Water accordingly flows through inlet duct 10, duct member 14, annular chamber 17, outlet member 19 and tubing 20 into the tube 76, discharging into the watering pan 75 via the outlet opening 77 in tube 76. When an adequate quantity has collected in the pan, the combined weight of the water, the pan, and the elements directly attached to the pan will be adequate to apply to the operating arm 31 a force sufficient to overcome the biasing action of spring 57. Accordingly, the operating arm 31 will be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, to cause actuating member 54 to force the central portion 28 of diaphragm 22 into engagement with the tip of duct member 14, thus closing the valve and preventing further supply of water therethrough.

While it is advantageous to have the portion 71 of latch member 64 engage in openings, such as notch portions 40, in both flanges 33 and 34, it will be understood that good results are also achieved when portion 71, being significantly shorter than shown, engages in a notch portion 40 only in flange 34 and does not project far beyond flange 34 when the latch member is in the position seen in FIG. 2. In all events, the latch member 64 has the important advantage of assuring that, when the valve is operating the supply water, the suspension bail 58 cannot become disengaged from the operating arm, since such disengagement would leave the valve open and supplying water continuously without provision for automatic closing of any kind.

Though a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention has been chosen for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that various changes and modifications can be made therein, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the type described comprising a body member, an operating arm, and means mounting the arm for pivotal movement relative to the body member, the combination of a connector device including a portion of limited transverse dimension;

means for engaging said connector device with the operating arm including at least one notch having an open throat, through which said portion of said connector device can be moved laterally, and a notch portion communicating with said throat and in which said portion of said connector device can be accommodated;

means carried by the body member and presenting a guide surface directed toward the operating arm; and

a latch member slidably carried by the operating arm for movement transversely thereof between a latching position and non-latching position,

said latch member including an element engaged in said one notch to prevent removal of said portion of said connector device from said notch portion so long as said latch member occupies said non-latching position, said element of said latch member being disengaged from said one notch, allowing removal of said portion of said connector device, when said latch member is in said latching position, said latch member being slidably engaged with said guide surface.

2. In a poultry watering valve, the combination of a valve body;

an operating arm mounted on said body for pivotal movement;

means carried by said body and presenting a guide surface directed toward said arm;

a latch member carried by said arm for rectilinear movement generally transversely of said arm,

said latch member having an inclined portion engageable with said guide surface to wedge said arm to a latched position when said latch member is moved in one direction, said arm being freed for pivotal movement when said latch member is moved in the other direction; a suspension member; means carried by said arm and presenting at least one notch for accommodating said suspension member; and

an element'carried by said latch member and disposed to engage in said one notch to prevent removal of said suspension member when said latch member is moved in said other direction.

3. In a poultry watering valve, the combination of a valve body;

an elongated operating arm mounted on said body for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to said arm,

said arm including two flange portions spaced radially from said pivot axis, said flange portions each having an opening and a notch, said openings being transversely aligned and said notches being transversely aligned;

a suspension bail having a straight portion engageable in said notches; and

a latch member comprising a first elongated straight portion projecting through said openings to slidably support said latch member on said operating arm,

a second portion carried by said first portion and inclined with respect thereto, said second portion slidably engaging said valve body in wedging fashion to force said operating arm to a latched position when said latch member is moved in one direction, and

a third portion engageable in said notches to block removal of said suspension bail when said latch member is moved in the other direction.

4. In a poultry watering valve, the combination of a valve body;

an elongated operating arm mounted on said body for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to said arm,

said arm including means defining at least one guide opening directed transversely of said arm in a location spaced from said axis,

said arm also including means defining a notch;

a suspension member engageable in said notch to connect to said operating arm another element such as a watering receptacle;

means carried by said body and presenting a fixed surface directed toward said operating arm; and

a latch member comprising a first elongated portion slidably extending through said one guide opening,

a second elongated portion inclined with respect to said first portion and adapted to engage said fixed surface,

and a third portion,

said first and second portions cooperating to wedge said operating arm into a valve-closing position when said latch member is moved transversely of said arm in one direction and to free said operating arm for pivotal movement when said latch member is moved transversely of said arm in the other direction,

said third portion being positioned to block removal of said suspension member from said notch when said latch member is moved in said other direction.

5. In a poultry watering valve, the combination of a valve body;

an elongated operating arm mounted on said body, for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to said arm,

said arm including two transversely spaced flange portions carried by a portion of said arm spaced from said axis,

each of said flange portions having a guide opening and a notch, said guide openings being aligned with each other transversely of said arm, and said notches being aligned with each other transversely of said arm;

a connector device having an elongated portion engageable in said notches for connecting to said arm another element such as a watering receptacle,

said elongated portion of said connector device being movable laterally into and out of said notches when said notches are open;

a latch member comprising a first straight elongated portion extending slidably through said guide openings,

a wedging portion connected to and spaced laterally from said first portion and inclined with respect thereto, and

a second straight portion connected to said wedging portion; and

means carried by said body and presenting a fixed guide surface directed toward said arm and disposed to be engaged by said wedging portion of said latch member,

said latch member being movable transversely of said arm between a first position, in which said arm is wedged to a valve-closing position, and a second position, in which said arm is freed for pivotal movement,

said second straight portion being disposed to block removal of said connector device from said notches when said latch member is in said second position.

6. In a poultry watering valve, the combination of a valve body;

an elongated operating arm pivotally mounted on said body for movement about an axis transverse to said arm,

at least an end portion of said arm being of U-shaped transverse cross section so as to present transversely spaced side flanges,

each of said flanges being provided with a longitudinally opening notch and said notches being aligned with each other transversely of said arm,

each of said flanges also being provided with a guide opening and said guide openings being aligned with each other transversely of said arm;

a connector device including an elongated portion which can be moved laterally into and out of engagement into said notches;

means carried by said body and presenting a fixed surface directed toward said arm; and

an integral latch member formed from a single length of elongated metal stock and comprising a first straight portion having a free end and an opposite end and extending through said guide openings,

a wedging portion connected to said opposite end of said first straight portion and spaced laterally from and inclined toward said first straight portion, and

a second straight portion spaced laterally from said first straight portion at the free end thereof, said second straight portion extending parallel to said first straight portion,

said first straight portion being at least twice as long as the space between said flanges, and said second straight portion being at least long enough to engage in both of said notches but not more than half as long as said first straight portion,

said latch member being movable transversely of said arm between a first position, in which said wedging portion is so engaged with said fixed surface as to cause said arm to be held in a valve-closing position, and a second position, in which said arm is freed for pivotal movement,

said second straight portion being engaged through said notches to block removal of said connector device therefrom when said latch member is in said second position, and being displaced from said arm to allow removal of said connector device when said latch member is in said first position.

7. A poultry valve according to claim 6, wherein said notches each comprise a longitudinally opening throat portion, a first circular portion for accommodating said elongated portion of said connector device, and

1 1 a second circular portion for accommodating said sec- 2,739,609 0nd straight portion of said latch member, 2,827,258 said first and second circular portions communicating 2,848,013 both with each other and with said throat portion. 2,973,775

Refernces Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,496,046 1/1950 Gilbou gh 137-408 12 Morris 137-408 Muhler 137-408 X Kotford 137-408 Witham 137-408 BROUGHTON G. DURHAM, Primary Examiner.

D. H. THIEL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A DEVICE OF THE TYPE DESCRIBED COMPRISING A BODY MEMBER, AN OPERATING ARM, AND MEANS MOUNTING THE ARM FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE BODY MEMBER, THE COMBINATION OF A CONNECTOR DEVICE INCLUDING A PORTION OF LIMITED TRANSVERSE DIMENSION; MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID CONNECTOR DEVICE WITH THE OPERATING ARM INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE NOTCH HAVING AN OPEN THROAT, THROUGH WHICH SAID PORTION OF SAID CONNECTOR DEVICE CAN BE MOVED LATERALLY, AND A NOTCH PORTION COMMUNICATING WITH SAID THROAT AND IN WHICH SAID PORTION OF SAID CONNECTOR DEVICE CAN BE ACCOMMODATED; MEANS CARRIED BY THE BODY MEMBER AND PRESENTING A GUIDE SURFACE DIRECTED TOWARD THE OPERATING ARM; AND A LATCH MEMBER SLIDABLY CARRIED BY THE OPERATING ARM FOR MOVEMENT TRANSVERSELY THEREOF BETWEEN A LATCHING POSITION AND NON-LATCHING POSITION, SAID LATCH MEMBER INCLUDING AN ELEMENT ENGAGED IN SAID ONE NOTCH TO PREVENT REMOVAL OF SAID PORTION OF SAID CONNECTOR DEVICE FROM SAID NOTCH PORTION SO LONG AS SAID LATCH MEMBER OCCUPIES SAID NON-LATCHING POSITION, 